Nissan plugs into Formula E

Nissan will become the first Japanese automotive brand to compete in the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E Racing Championship starting in late 2018.

Nissan's entry into the electric street racing championship coincides with the launch of the new-generation Formula E car, which features striking new aerodynamics and an entirely new battery and powertrain package.

Season five is when the all-electric championship will introduce new chassis and battery specifications. Nissan will work with its partner Renault to leverage expertise and development already available, in keeping with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi automotive partnership's focus on collaboration and maximising synergies to boost competitiveness.

Season five of the Formula E series is expected to begin in December 2018 and visit major cities around the world including New York, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Zurich and Hong Kong. Nissan revealed its Formula E intentions at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show and showcased its concept livery at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

Nissan had first announced its intention to enter Formula E in October 2017. Launched in 2014, the FIA Formula E championship is a global racing series where teams and manufacturers compete with all-electric powertrains on street circuits set up in major urban centers around the world.

"To have a name like Nissan coming on board is a momentous day for the series," Alejandro Agag, the founder and CEO of Formula E, had said. "Not only is it great to welcome a new manufacturer to the Formula E family – it's great to see our first Japanese manufacturer entering the frame, showing truly how global the electric revolution is. Japan is a country at the forefront of new technologies, with one of the biggest followings of Formula E. The shift toward sustainable mobility is in motion, and it's unstoppable. I look forward to seeing the Nissan logo adorned on the new-look cars for season five."